Chavez, McCown and Walker Earn Week Three Awards

Published on April 14, 2009 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

CHICAGO - Tennessee Valley wide receiver/linebacker BRADLY CHAVEZ, Iowa wide receiver ERRICK MCCOWN and South Georgia defensive back TAKASHI WALKER have been named the JLS Ironman, Russell Athletic Offensive Player and Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 3 of 2009, the af2's 10th anniversary season. In addition to these three awards, the af2 is also highlighting the player who makes the best catch and the best hit of the week. The Big Game Catch of the Week Award for Week 3 goes to Quad City offensive lineman NICK CODUTTI and the NiFTy Hit of the Week is awarded to Kentucky QB JARED LORENZEN.

JLS IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Chavez (6-2, 205, Alabama-Birmingham), in his fourth af2 season, had a strong all-around effort for Tennessee Valley in the team's Week 3 road game against South Division rival South Georgia. Despite the result (55-33 loss), the veteran playmaker was a factor on both sides of the ball against the Wildcats. On offense, the UAB alum caught 11 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns, all game-highs. He also contributed on defense with three tackles. This is the third Ironman of the Week Award of Chavez's career. He currently leads the Vipers in receiving (27-279-7 TDs) and is tied for the team lead in scoring with 42 points. Chavez won the af2's JLS Ironman of the Year Award in 2008 as a member of the Manchester Wolves.

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

McCown (5-11, 180, Oklahoma State), in his third af2 season, led Iowa to a 53-38 Week 3 road win against Midwest Division rival Peoria. The Oklahoma State alum had his best game as a Barnstormer, amassing six total touchdowns and 217 all-purpose yards. McCown had a team-record four rushing touchdowns on just five carries for 34 yards. He also caught 10 passes for a game-high 140 yards and two touchdowns as the Barnstormers have raced out to a 3-0 start, their best beginning to a season in team history. This is the first af2 weekly award of McCown's career. He

currently leads Iowa in scoring (54 points - 9 TDs), rushing (6-40-4 TDs) and receiving (21-250-5 TDs).

AARON'S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Walker (6-0, 185, Eastern Kentucky) was a major player on defense in South Georgia's, 55-33, Week 3 home win against South Division rival Tennessee Valley. The third-year defensive back and veteran international player from Jamaica recorded 5.5 total tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery to help the Wildcats hold the defending ArenaCup Champion Vipers to their lowest point total of the season. Walker, who played collegiately at Eastern Kentucky, intercepted Tennessee Valley QB Kevin Eakin on his first pass attempt of the game and returned it 25 yards for the first score of the game. This is the first af2 weekly award of Walker's career. He is also only the third international player to win an af2 weekly award since the league's international program was developed in 2002, joining Takuya Furutani (Louisville; Ironman, WK6 of 2004) and Khreem Smith (Memphis; Defensive, WKS 1 & 16 of 2005). South Georgia is currently 3-1 overall and a perfect 3-0 in the South Division.

THE BIG GAME CATCH OF THE WEEK

Quad City offensive lineman Nick Codutti (6-2, 315, William Jewell) is the Week 3 recipient of The Big Game Catch of the Week Award. Codutti's catch was a leaping, 8-yard touchdown grab on the Steamwheelers' final drive of the first half. The William Jewell alum, lined up at fullback instead of at his customary spot on the offensive line, was wide open near the goal line but had to use every ounce of athletic ability to get his 315-pound frame off the turf to snare QB J.J. Raterink's errant pass with one hand. After falling flat on his back at the 1-yard line, Codutti barrel rolled into the end zone untouched. Codutti's catch, his only one of the evening, capped a strong first half for Quad City as the team headed into the locker room with a 21-point advantage over Midwest Division rival Peoria, 41-20. The Steamwheelers scored four more times in the second half en route to a 69-48 road victory over the Pirates.

NIFTY HIT OF THE WEEK

Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen (6-2, 285, Kentucky), in his rookie af2 season, is the second recipient of the NiFTy Hit of the Week Award, a new weekly honor that highlights the player who makes the best hit or tackle of the week. Lorenzen's hit came on a 3-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter of Friday night's home opener against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Lorenzen dropped back to pass but saw some open field along the right corner and decided to tuck the ball and run for the end zone. Bolstered by his burly 285-pound frame, the former University of Kentucky standout had no problem putting his head down to engage Pioneers' defender Justin Parrish as he approached Lorenzen near the goal line. Lorenzen delivered a near knockout blow to Parrish that sent the 255-pound defensive end's helmet flying as he fell hopelessly to the turf. Lorenzen ran over the prone defender and into the end zone for the score. Lorenzen accounted for seven total TDs (4 rushing, 3 passing) and was the catalyst behind Kentucky's, 63-56, upset win against the No. 2-ranked Pioneers.

JLS Ironman of the Week candidates included:

Florida's Chandler Blakely, Green Bay's Robert Garth, Peoria's Brian Allbrooks, Kentucky's J.T. Haskins, Tulsa's Jeff Hughley, Quad City's Kris Peters, Corpus Christi's Henry Hall, Arkansas' Olan Coleman, Oklahoma City's Chris Maddox, Boise's Jomo Wilson and Spokane's Lee Foliaki.

Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Florida's Chris Wallace, Manchester's Steven Savoy, Kentucky's Jared Lorenzen, South Georgia's Darnell Kennedy, Tulsa's Justin Allgood, Quad City's J.J. Raterink, Corpus Christi's Gary Cooper, Arkansas' Kyle Rowley, Oklahoma City's Robert Kent, Bossier-Shreveport's P.J. Berry and Spokane's Andy Olson.

Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Albany's Alvin Ray Jackson, Manchester's Rob Green, Iowa's Jordan Davis, Kentucky's Jamus Martin, Tulsa's Jamar Ransom, Quad City's Tyus Jackson, Corpus Christi's Darius Robinson, Arkansas' Vegas Franklin, Oklahoma City's Fred Shaw, Bossier-Shreveport's Phillip Geiggar, Boise's Terrance Sanders and Spokane's Ben McCombs.

The Big Game Catch of the Week candidates included:

Albany's Christian Wise, Green Bay's Nate Forse, Peoria's Brian Allbrooks, South Georgia's Antwone Savage, Tulsa's Jeff Hughley, Corpus Christi's Tim Harris, Arkansas' Vegas Franklin, Oklahoma City's Al Hunt, Bossier-Shreveport's Buchie Ibeh, Kentucky's Lonell Dewalt.

NiFTy Hit of the Week candidates included:

Albany's Kenny Williams, Manchester's Al Phillips, Tennessee Valley's Akeem Lockett, Tulsa's Kamau Jackson, Quad City's Tyus Jackson and Anton Ceasar, Amarillo's Donta Bright, Oklahoma City's Fred Shaw and Boise's Marcus Pittman.

2009 WEEK-BY-WEEK AWARD WINNERS

WK OFFENSE IRONMAN DEFENSE CATCH HIT

KO Jason Murrietta (CVC) Chris McKinney (FLA) Kinny Spotwood (SGW) Kelvin Dickens (SGW) None

1 Andy Collins (STK) Jamar Ransom (TUL) Levi Madarieta (BOI) Rod Windsor (RGV) None

2 Brian Villanueva (IAB) Jeff Hughley (TUL) Lavar Stepter (MIL) Buchie Ibeh (BSB) Cory Lacek (WBS)

arenafootball2 Stories from April 14, 2009

• Wildcats DB Takashi Walker Named af2 Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week - South Georgia Wildcats
• Chavez, McCown and Walker Earn Week Three Awards - af2

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.